Arrested Development: A Veteran Police Chief Sounds Off About Protest, Racism, Corruption, and the Seven Steps Necessary to Improve Our Nation's Police

by David C. Couper

BOOK DESCRIPTIONRepression of protest. Racial profiling. Excessive force. Misconduct. Corruption.In this hard-hitting book, Chief David Couper talks about his career, the police subculture, and his 20-year transformation of police in Madison, Wisc. The book is autobiography, history, and a police improvement manual in which he outlines the seven steps police must take in order to overcome the four obstacles which have "arrested" their anti-intellectualism, violence, corruption, and discourtesy. When these obstacles are dismantled and the seven steps followed, we will have police who are smart, restrained, honest, and courteous. Couper writes with authority, wisdom, and experience.

Genres: Nonfiction

243 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2012

Reviews

[Matthew]

A really phenomenal and eye-opening book, written by a former police chief, about what is wrong with police departments in America today and what can be done to improve them.

[Matthew Lutz]

No this isn't a book about the TV show, it's about policing.

[Fred Fisher]

This is a biography that lays out principals for modern policing. The basic points he makes would work for all leaders. Sadly, the world including authorities, business and politics are still ruled (with some exceptions) from the top down. I tried many of these techniques over the years when I was in leadership positions. That usually got me in trouble with the higher ups, who thought I needed to make the people I led toe the line through discipline. I also find it quite interesting that Couper is now an ordained Episcopal priest. His tenets and the core of Christianity, as express in Micah 6, are much the same. I highly recommend this book to all.